Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



PATENTBD NOV. 21, 1905.

0. F. STODDARD.

PNEUMATIC DESPATOH APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13, 1904. RENEWED MAR. 28. 1905.

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PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

C. F. STODDARD. PNEUMATIC DESPATUH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1904. RENEWED MAR. 28. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. STODDARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PNEUMATIC SERVICE COMPANY, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed May 13, 1904. Renewed March 28, 1905. Serial No. 252,528.

To (all whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. STODDARD, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in terminals for pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, and especially to such apparatus wherein large carriers are used for the transmission of mail-matter, merchandise, and the like.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine simple in construction and efficient in operation.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the terminal with parts in position to receive a carrier. Fig. 2 is a similar view through the terminal after a carrier has been received. Fig. 3 is a cross-section at the forward end of l the receiving-chamber of the terminal on the line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the rear end of the receiving-chainber on the line Y Y, Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The main transmission-tube A is located in alinement with the compression or receiving chamber A of the terminal and beyond the slotted casing A, through which the pressure passes into the return-tube A Located on the upper side of the compression or receiving chamber A is the cylinder D, connected with the compression or receiving chamber A by the pipe C and located within said cylinder is the piston D connected by the rod D with the piston-valve D, which in turn is connected by the rod D to the rod D by the pivot-joint D The rod D is pivotally connected to the finger D at E, and this finger D swings on the bracket E to which it is pivotally connected at E, and said finger normally extends into the path of travel of the discharging-carrier, Fig. 2. The air supplied for operating the inner and outer gates B B in the terminal enters through the pipe C into the valve-casing D and is conveyed into the tops of the inner and outer cylinders B B by the pipes C C and operates the pistons B B to which are respectively connected the gates B B by the piston-rods B B. The carrier coming into the compression-chamber A is brought to a stop by the compression of the air in front of it as the gate B is closed. This pressure passes through the pipe C into the cylinder D* and forces the piston D to the end of the cylinder D, as shown in Fig. 2. This movement of the piston D moves the piston-valve D from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 and also moves the finger D into the position shown in Fig. 2. The air-supply entering the valve-casing D through the pipe C passes through the pipe C to the upper side of the piston Bin the cylinder B and closes the gate B. As the piston B reaches the lower end of the cylinder B it passes the port P, which admits the pressure to the under side of the piston B in the cylinder B through the pipe C. This pressure raises the piston B to the upper end of the cylinder B causing the raising of the gate B which is connected to the piston B by the piston-rod B. The pressure from the line A passes through the port P in the gate B into the chamber A back of the carrier and forces the carrier out of the chamber A onto the table A. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2 the finger D is in the path of the carrier, which strikes it as it comes onto the table A. This finger D moves the piston D from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, thereby opening the pipe C to the atmosphere to allow the pressure in it and the cylinder B to exhaust to the atmosphere. The pressure in the pipe C then passes through the pipe C into the cylinder B above the piston B and forces it down into the position shown in Fig. 1. As the piston B reaches the lower end of the cylinder B it passes the port P, which allows the pressure to pass through the pipe C to the under side of the piston B* in the cylinder B, thereby raising the piston 13* to the position shown in Fig. 1, which places the apparatus in position to receive another carrier.

The pipe C is connected to the cylinder D* and is for the purpose of balancing the piston D when the machine is not in operation and is in communication with the inner end of the receiving-chamber A.

A is a suitable buffer or stop for the carrier as it reaches the end of the table A".

Eis the floor-line, and A, A, A and A are suitable supports.

The operation and construction so far described are similar to that shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 742,516, dated October 27, 1903, and granted to the American Pneumatic Service Company, of Dover, Delaware, as my assignee.

The inner end F of the receiving-chamber A and the slottedcasing A are constructed so that the area of the cross-section is enough greater than the area of the cross-section through the largest part of the carrier to allow the air compressed by the carrier coming into the receiving chamber A to escape around the corner, so that there will be practically no cushioning effect until the carrier is completely into the compression-chamber A. F shows the point at which this enlarged section shown in Fig. a emerges into the circular outer end I shown in Fig. 3, which is the shape of the outer endof the compression chamber A. The object of this enlarged section is to insure the carrier coming completely into the compression-chamber A before it is stopped by compressing the air in front of it. It is obvious that it the carrier should be brought to a stop so far back in the compression-chainber A that the gate B could not close it would precludethe further operation of the machine.

1 do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a pneumatic-despatclrtube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a terminal, and a receiving-chamber in said terminal and having its inner end constructed of greater area than the largest part of the cross-section through the carrier entering therein to allow the air ahead of the carrier to escape around said carrier thereby preventing the cushioning of said carrier in the inner end of the receiving-chamber to allow the carrier to enter the receivingchamber.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmissiontube, a terminal, and a receiving-chamber in said terminal having its inner end constructed of greater area than its outer end in which the carrier is cushioned so as to allow the escape of air around said carrier thereby preventing the cushioning of said carrier in the inner end of the receiving-chamber to allow the carrier to enter the receivingchamber.

3. In apneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus,

ber, and means for cushioning said carrier in the outer end of said terminal.

a. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a terminal communicating with said tube, a receiving-chamber in said terminal, an inner gate between the transmission-tube and the receiving-chamber and normally open, an outer gate between the receivin g-chamber and the atmosphere and normally closed, an inner and an outer cylinder, a piston in each cylinder connected respectively to said inner and outer gates, an air-supply for operating said pistons to more said gates and normally holding said inner gate open and said outer gate closed, communication between said cylinders and said air-supply, a valve for controlling communication to each cylinder alternately, and mechanism operated by the air compressed ahead of the carrier in the outer end of the receiving-chamber for operating said air-controlling valve to allow the air-supply to open the outer gate and close the inner gate, the inner end of the receivingehamber being constructed of larger area than the outer end to allow the escape of air around said carrier thereby preventing the cushioning of the carrier in the inner end of the receiving-chamber to allow the carrier to enter the receiving-chamber.

5. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a terminal communicating with said tube, a receiving-chamber in said terminal, an inner gate between the transmission-tube and the receiving-chamber and normally open, an outer gate between the receivingchamber and the atmosphere and normally closed, an inner and an outer cylinder, a piston in each cylinder connected respectively to said inner and outer gates, an air-supply for operating said pistons to move said gates and normally holding said inner gate open and said outer gate closed, communication between said cylinders and said airsupply, a valve for controlling communication to each cylinder alternately, mechanism operated by the air compressed ahead of the carrier in the outer end of the receivingchamber for operating said air-controlling valve to allow the air-supply to open the outer gate and close the inner gate, the inner end of the receiving-chamber being constructed of larger area than the outer end to allow the escape of air around said carrier thereby preventing the cushioning of the carrier in the inner end of the receivingchamber to allow the carrier to enter the receiving-chamber, and mechanism operated by the carrier leaving said terminal for operating said air-controlling valve to allow the air-supply to open the inner gate and close the outer gate.

6. In apneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a terminal, and a receiving-chamber in said terminal having its inner end constructed with a circular bottom to conform to the shape of the carrier and an enlarged top to allow the air ahead of the carrier to escape around said carrier thereby preventing the cushioning of said carrier in the inner end of the receiving-chamber to allow the carrier to enter the receivingchamber.

7. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a terminal, a receivingchamber in said terminal having its inner end constructed with a circular bottom to conform to the shape of the carrier and an enlarged top to allow the air ahead of the carrier to escape around said carrier thereby preventing the cushioning of said carrier in 'the inner end of the receiving-chamber to allow the carrier to enter the receiving-chamber and having its outer end constructed of circular form, and means for cushioning said carrier in said outer end.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a terminal, a receivingchamber in said terminal having its inner end constructed with a circular bottom to conform to the shape of the carrier and an enlarged top to allow the air ahead of the carrier to escape around said carrier thereby preventing the cushioning of said carrier in theinner end of the receiving-chamber to allow the carrier to enter the receiving-chamber and having its outer end constructed of circular form, a gate closing the outer end to the atmosphere and against which the air is compressed ahead of the carrier for cushioning the carrier, and means for opening said gate to allow the discharge of the carrier from the terminal.

In testimony whereofIhave signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this Lth day of May, A. D. 1904.

CHARLES F. STODDARD.

WVitnesses:

E. L. HARLOW, A. L. MESSER. 

